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V A S C U L A R
A C C E S S
or vein locators are more expensive, they can decrease the number of attempts at IV access,
decrease procedure time," she
says. "It is also cost effective
when there are less venous
BEDSIDE ULTRASOUND
Michele Sena, MSN, RN, uses
a Doppler ultrasound to listen
for a venous blood flow.
Michele Sena, MSN, RN
improve first-attempt success and
access attempts and fewer supplies are needed."
Betty O'Neal, RN, OR manager at Summersville (W.Va.) Regional Medical
Center, says her facility is shopping for an ultrasound device for difficult IV
sticks. "The ultrasound will find the vein," she says, "and we will be able to
guide our IV needles into it for easier access."
Lidocaine
Mr. Lippert feels strongly that lidocaine should be used in IV starts. "So
much so that I bring nursing students from our local university up for a day
and teach them the technique," he says. "Nursing schools don't give a very
good education starting IVs."
The comments from patients who receive lidocaine ("Geez, that's the best
IV I've ever had done. I didn't even feel it!") are overwhelmingly positive,
he says. "This gives staff a sense of comfort," he says. "When you know
that you're not hurting patients, it's much easier to perform procedures that
are otherwise painful."
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O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | J A N U A R Y 2013
